A couple of days later, the kids arrive home from school with their body guards. Sadie and Bella decided on a man named Julio Macias to work for Matteo and a man named Matthew Gubler to work for Luca.
They interact with the children but they don't babysit them. For the most part, it's small talk when they go with the kids to and from school. Although they don't follow them around at school, since that would give something fishy away to the headmaster. Instead, the body guards stay within walking distance of the school all day, to ensure nothing bad happens to them.
They do stick around the kids even when Bella and Sadie are with them. They just stand in the room and mind their own business. They also take up the second mini apartment on the second level, always ready to be awake at a moment's notice.
"How was school?" Bella asks from the couch. Matteo runs and sits on her lap.
"Good," He replies. Thea says the same thing and Luca just shrugs.
"You don't like school?" Sadie asks, sitting next to Bella. Thea sits down on the ground and pulls a book out of her backpack.
"It's hard," Luca says. Admittedly, the three children are at a disadvantage because they haven't been in school since before the ring, and Matteo wasn't even old enough to be in school then. He's got it easier since most of the other kids are also still learning, but he's still behind with basic understandings of the alphabet and words.
"I know, buddy," Sadie stands up and hugs him, "I laid out outfits for you on your beds, I need you to change into them before dinner."
"Why?" Thea asks.
"Because some very important business people are coming tonight and I want you to look your best," She replies.
"Ooo, yay, these uniforms are ugly," Thea smiles. Bella scoffs.
"For your information, I think you all look very cute in your uniforms," She counters.
"You have to. You're our Mama," Luca points out. This causes all of the children to giggle.
"Alright, alright, go on, go put your bags away and play," Bella chuckles. The children head to the elevator, all talking about Bella and how funny she is.
"Sadie, come in, this is Florence," Florence's voice comes over her radio.
"I'll be back," Sadie says in a more serious tone than she uses with the kids. She walks into their bedroom, "This is Sadie. What's up?"
"Are you sure about tonight? What about your family?" Florence asks.
Sadie sighs, "Yes. My kids are going to be here. They won't do anything stupid with my children around."
"Sadie, I really don't like the idea of this," Florence says wearily over the radio.
"I got this Florence. Everything will be fine. They're not hostile, just... introverted," She replies. Tonight's dinner has to go to plan. Otherwise there will be trouble.
"Okay, okay, but... radio me if anything happens, if you need backup, I have some guys in Rome," The blonde offers.
"Thanks, Florence, I will."
"Over and out," She says.
"Over and out."
***
Mikey goes home for the day and Sadie has Giovanni currently, changing his diaper and outfit for the evening. She stands in front of his changing table in their room, holding up two different onesies.
"What do you think, mio figlio? Versace or Burberry?" She shows the infant the outfits. He just babbles, "Burberry, it is."
Bella comes in as Sadie finishes putting on the outfit. She picks him up, "What do you think? He's wearing Burberry tonight."
"Oh, he's so handsome!" Bella takes the boy from her girlfriend, "What a handsome little man!"
"What are you wearing tonight?" Sadie asks as she begins to take off her tie. Bella grins.
"What do you want me wearing tonight?" She asks seductively.
"Well," Sadie sighs as she starts to unbutton her dress shirt, "I would like you wearing nothing, but I can't have anyone else seeing you like that."
"Oh yeah?" Bella asks as she approaches the mafia boss, "If this dinner works in your favor, consider it done."
Sadie has to stop herself from drooling over the thought. She smirks, "Of course this dinner is going my way."
Bella strokes Sadie's collarbone as the dress shirt slides to the floor, "If you say so."
She takes Giovanni out of the room and leaves Sadie hot and bothered.
***
At 7PM, the guests arrive at the Estate for dinner. Sadie lines up her family for introductions. She invites a tall man in with two bodyguards wearing all black. Sadie wears a red Versace suit with a black tie and Bella wears a black Chanel dress to match with Sadie. Thea wears the same Chanel dress as Bella. The boys wear matching red suits to match Sadie, with little black bow-ties. And finally, Giovanni wears his black Burberry onesie.
"Mikhail, welcome. This is my family, my girlfriend Bella, and my four children; Thea, Luca, Matteo, and Giovanni," Sadie introduces. She's a little nervous, but she doesn't let it show, "Family, this is Mikhail Ruslan."
"Nice to meet you," Bella says. He holds out his hand and Bella places it in his. He kisses the top of her hand and looks over to Sadie, who doesn't say anything.
"Let's sit down. What are you drinking tonight? We have wine, whisky, beer, pretty much anything you could ask," Sadie offers.
"Give me your favorite red," He states in a heavy Russian accent as they walk into the dining room. Everyone sits down, the children quiet as the adults talk.
"Of course, Felipé!" Sadie calls. He shows up instantly and brings out a Cabernet Sauvignon. He pours the man a glass, along with Sadie and Bella.
"So, let's get down to business," Mikhail says, "You want me to... invest... in your company. And I am tempted... but I need you to tell me the specifics. I'm talking... percentages and, uh... rates..."
He's talking in code to avoid revealing any information to the children and Bella.
"Right," Sadie states, "Well our company has a percentage of 60 and our rates are 20%."
He scoffs as he takes a sip, "20% is far too low."
"Well, what are you thinking?" The mafia boss asks.
"50% plus a... down payment..." He smirks. The children eat the chicken nuggets Felipé made them, while the adults tear into steaks.
"I can't do a down payment," Sadie states, "And I won't go any higher than 25%."
Mikhail swallows his food and sighs, "Are you sure you don't want to... think about this offer? Maybe discuss it with your girlfriend? I think I could be great.. investment for you."
Sadie shakes her head, "No. Those are my requirements. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm running a professional business here."
"Professional!" He laughs, "There's nothing professional about this business. You need an investor like me to take this business to the next level."
Sadie becomes frustrated and stabs her steak with her knife, "No deal. I can make this business big on my own."
Mikhail takes another sip of wine and puts the glass down, "I was afraid you were going to say that."
Next thing Sadie knows, Mikhail and his men bring out their guns.
YOU ARE READING
collateral chaos
General Fictionbullets, bouquets, drug-lords, human-trafficking - the stakes are higher and there's never a moment without danger. Can Sadie keep living the life as head of the Italian Mafia without losing the ones she loves most? Book #2 to bullets and bouquets ...
